CHILEAN CLERGY ABUSE CASES

SCORES of new cases of priestly sexual abuse of minors have come to light in Chile, public prosecutors said said Friday, deepening a crisis in the country's Catholic Church that has embroiled Pope Francis.

The county's chief prosecutor's office said the number of cases it was investigating had soared to 119 as more victims came forward.

A total of 167 bishops, priests and lay members of the church are now under investigation for sexual crimes  committed  in the South American country, since 1960.

Seven of these under investigation are  bishops and  96 are priests, but it was unclear from the figures released Friday how many were currently serving.

Among those implicated is the country's most senior Catholic figure, Santiago Archbishop Ricardo Ezzati, who faces accusations he helped cover up sexual abuse in his diocese.

Most of the evidence gathered him was gathered during a search of the archdiocese offices in Santiago earlier this month.

The search was ordered by the Prosecutor in charge of the investigation, Emiliano Arias, after the church refused to hand over files to investigators, citing the need to respect victims.

Ezzati has denied allegations that he covered up cases of abuse, including those of a top aide, 56-year-old Oscar Munoz, who was jailed in July while a probe into allegations he raped at least  seven children continues.

Reflecting public outrage over the investigation's findings, the Chilean parliament has begun moves to withdraw citizenship from the naturalized  Italian-born Ezzati, who has protested his innocence. [Agencies]